Paula A. Wood, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

ad0lq2@r.postjobfree.com 574-***-****

***** ********* ****.; Elkhart, IN 46514

I am offering 10+ years of success as a Human Resource professional. Influential industry leader, teaching Human Resource certification courses through a global e-learning platform and at the local university, driving certification pass rate above the national average. Plus 20+ years as an innovative and relationship-focused leader with excellent communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally and collaboratively with customers, clients, vendors, and team members at all levels.

COMPETENCES

Talent Acquisition / Talent Development / Employee Relations & Engagement / Ethical Officer

Employer Brand Strategist / Retention & Succession Planning / Dashboard Metric Reporting

SKILLS

* Inspirational and data-driven leader enthusiastic about building amazing organizations.

* Strategic orientation and critical thinking skills with the ability to align and integrate talent and workforce management programs toward a holistic global approach to localization and business applicability

* Driving process improvements and innovative approaches in a global workplace

* Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.

* Inclusive leadership style with an emphasis on driving value-added results

* Action-oriented leader who can anticipate needs and demonstrates a keen sense of urgency to get things done in a matrixed organization, fostering team culture, removing obstacles, empowering and developing a team

* Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills (including presentation skills) across levels, with an ability to influence, build enthusiasm, and commitment

* Proficient in Microsoft Office, HCM products, ADP Platforms, Payroll, and Attendance on Demand

CURRENT EXPERIENCE

Freelance HR Business Partner HRwood Consulting, 2019 - 2022 & 2023 – Present

Leverage HR expertise to supply consultancy services and best practices for specialties, including talent management, full cycle recruiting, onboarding, pay scale analysis, updating job descriptions, workforce planning, and engagement needs assessments. Enhancing HR team members’ experiences.

Collaborate with clients, align effective processes, and improve communications through company intranet.

Lead the annual salary administration process, including related analysis and report generation for budgeting. Develop sound practices relating to job analysis, documentation, and recommendation; market pricing; benchmarking reviews; salary grades structures, base pay administration and recognition programs.

Ensures proposed salary adjustments conform to established guidelines, policies, and practices. Provide guidance and recommendations to management to ensure internal equity across employee groups and consistent application of compensation guidelines.

Responsible for a variety of corporate analysis initiatives. Developing reports and presentations for communicating findings and trends to executive and senior management review. Identify and implement opportunities to automate and streamline processes.

Train clients on legal compliance and recommend process changes to mitigate company risk. Ensure all plans follow state and federal laws: FMLA, ADA, COBRA, ERISA, OSHA, ADEA, cGMP, and GFSI.

Implemented ADP’s ATS and HRIS, maximizing utilization across multiple locations (client: ITRC; 156 miles with two unions). Built a pipeline of qualified seasonal employees, reducing recruiting expenses.

Conducted fact-finding interviews/investigations on employee issues, including discrimination, harassment, discipline, conflict resolution, coaching, and personal improvement plans.

Adjunct Instructor, Indiana University of South Bend, South Bend, IN 2006 – Present (PT)

eLearning Instructor, HR Jetpack Remote, IN 4/2020 - 2/2022 (Contract)

Educator of HRCI/SHRM certification for HR professionals & students across the US and globally.

Utilizing learning technologies in Adult Learning Theory, leveraging multiple LMS, evaluating LMS Metrics, self-guided, exam delivery, and digital badging.

Create and deliver dynamic student instruction with ongoing development, assessment, and redesign of curricula that maintain enthusiasm and engagement. Translate complex subject matter and give it to students through innovative technological platforms for virtual learning or in-person, interactive presentations. Provided reflection and peer learning through practical experiences.

Corporate Human Resources Mgr. Postle Aluminum Elkhart, IN 2022-2023 (RIF)

Human Resources Manager Shield Restraint System, Elkhart, IN 2017 – 2019 (RIF)

Human Resources Director Brunk/AJP LLC, Goshen, IN 2016-2018 (Ownership Change)

Human Resources Director MIS, Qualitor Inc. South Bend, IN 2015-2016 (Restructuring)

Corporate Human Resources Mgr. Postle Aluminum Elkhart, IN 2006–2015 (returned 2022)

Human Resource Manager AmFab (business sold in 2005, mgmt. regrouped, purchased Postle) 2002 – 2005

In the above-listed positions, I partnered with senior leadership to deliver processes aligned with the organization's values, mission, and financial budget. Provided leadership, trained and developed collaborative HR teams of 1 to 5 direct reports and interns, and managed the organization's Human Resource departments and core competencies, delivering solutions in the following areas:

RECRUITING: Strong multi-tasking ability to effectively manage simultaneous candidate pipelines for different requirements and business areas, including executive level positions, COO, Controllers, Physicians, Therapist, Dentists, Plant Managers, and hourly staffing positions. Ability to communicate effectively with executives, hiring managers, supervisors, candidates, community partners, and team members. I built a contingency pool of candidates in the Applicant Tracking System.

STAFFING: Company headcounts range from 100 to 1250 employees, up to eight locations in multiple states and overseas areas, UK, China, and Mexico. Work in partnership with managers to develop a strategy to ensure headcount total per department efforts elevated staffing to 90% levels and less than a 5-day filling rate. I conducted union grievance investigations and counseling.

STRATEGIC PLANNING: Provide leadership to develop, recommend, and implement programs and procedures to drive strategic communications, change management, engagement, organizational development, and other key strategic initiatives across the human resources organization to achieve the organization’s strategic and operational objectives. Negotiated contracts to reduce expenses, led management team through RIF, prepared severance agreements, and reduced headcount by 55%.

TALENT DEVELOPMENT: Oversee the design, development, and delivery of all training programs, curricula,

and services, including technical and professional training. I collaborated with the executive leadership team on

goals and strategies regarding talent management, development, training, and succession planning. I utilized.

the ADDIE training process when creating personalized training modules. Mentoring interns on HR best

practices and knowledge with all team members.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: Skill gap analysis identified strategic training plans needed to achieve a 20% increase in product quality and efficiency. Plus, it reduced scrap, injuries, and absenteeism. Coached and mentored direct reports and supervisors on developmental needs; assessed performance and provided feedback to direct reports. We are executing and measuring results through analytics.

BENEFIT COMPENSATION: Collaborate with the CFO and President to manage the company's health care and liability insurance programs. Implemented Wellness Campaigns to improve employees' resources and knowledge physically, financially, mentally, and socially. Integrating bi-monthly contests/ programs and a wellness fair. Increased employees' awareness of features available in the benefit plans, EAP programs, and community resources. I participated in open enrollment renewals and plan design changes for affordability.

NEGOTIATIONS - Redesigned Employee Benefits by selecting a benefits broker that met the requirements and needs of the organizational goals, increasing benefit offerings while reducing renewals from 23% to 1%, $300K plus in savings. Participated in union renegotiates of contract changes on wages.

TECHNOLOGY: Maximizing self-service platforms on existing software ATS, HRIS, payroll, benefits, time, attendance, and training automated software enhances employee experience and reduces paper utilization in HR. I was the project manager through three Payroll/HRIS system conversions and three vendor upgrades. Directed service providers and coordinated with IT and Finance teams to ensure timely, accurate delivery of contracted services and system integration with the ERP system.

LEGAL - Proactively prevented litigation cases by consistently using favorable human resource policies, procedures, and best practices. Filed government-required reports 5500, EEO-1, ACA, audited office HR practices, maintained SOX, and employee files. I instituted compliance best practices with the HR team.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bachelor’s degree, Human Resource Management, WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, Kalamazoo, MI

Certified Professional by HRCI & SHRM and OSHA 30-hours

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Member, National Notary Association – Exp 2026

National and Michiana Chapter of SHRM: previous Board of Directors (President in 2014) 8 years

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